I’m not sure if any people who don’t live in Newcastle any more are curious. But the old Odeon building is still abandoned, sad and empty.
Incidentally, I recently got this book out of the library and it’s fascinating. It’s available from amazon here.
I loved the Odeon in Newcastle. The last time I was there was to take the grandchildren to see Shrek (the first) which must have been in 2001. We went for the best seats at the front and they were so comfortable it was like sitting in the comfort of your own home but with this huge screen in front of you. It was sad to read that it is not going to be relisted as a protected building and will almost certainly be demolished. It is reputed to be the finest example of its type outside of London.
i only went in a few times when i was a kid, by the time i was old enough to go to the cinema with my mates the warner village over the motorway had opened and there was the metrocentre cinema. i seem to remember the main auditorium being incredibly steep, almost vertical in fact but that might just be faulty memory.
that book you mentioned; the photos might be the ones here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/newcastlelibraries/sets/72157622716643935/ the cover shot certainly is. i found this the other day through a link on this site i think, i spent a couple of hours looking through the photos but only the cinema and areal photos sets :P
i can’t see anybody reopening the odeon, there’s already a multi-screen place at the gate and the wonderful Tyneside Cinema over the road .
Funnily enough I was only talking about this with my folks a week or two ago. We all still remember me going to see Snow White for my 6th or 7th birthday with half my classmates. Odeon 1 was flipping massive - CGP’s memory probably isn’t faulty!
So wish I could sneak inside somehow… I’m curious to see what the interior’s like after all these years.
My bus stop is directly in front of this movie theatre so it has been very sad to see it boarded up and empty for so long. I too have seen many a movie here years ago. My great-grandfather owned the old Brighton Cinema on the West Road when it was a dance hall & cinema- my grandmother played piano and sang along to the old black and white silent films-and my mother brought all her friends to the movies for free-I’m sure she was very popular!
Do you have any photograph of this, as we are doing a collection of what it used to look like, and we would like as many as possible to frame. It is now a bowling alley and has been for many years now…
I wish I did! I too have been searching for a photograph of the address for The Brighton but have come up empty handed. I do have my grandfathers black & white business card with his photograph on one side and The Brighton name, address and information on the other..but that is all…such a shame. Wish I had more. If you happen to come across any information during your research could you please pass it along? Thanks in advance.
Will try and put you in touch if either of you comes up with anything!
I saw Alien here the week it came out, in 1979 I think. Scariest expeience of my life up to that point.
There were occasional rock concerts here in the 70s as well. I have a vague memory of a fairly controversial show by The Who involving lots of smashed guitars, drums, and yelling at the audience. (I wasn’t there but this was around the time I started to discover music). In ‘74 Deep Purple, who were my favourite band, played at the Odeon. I wasn’t allowed to go and have borne the grudge all these years.
I love this site for many reasons - but especially for these unexpected memory triggers!!!!!
Beth-sorry I didn’t say this before but the links to the history of the swanky Odeon building were so interesting-it should be protected.
It still amazes / saddens me that the majority of Pilgrim Street is abandoned, empty buildings. I am aware that plans are afoot to regenerate the area, but these seem to have been around forever. I mean, look how central this street is. It’s all a bit sad really.
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2010/01/28/newcastle-odeon-cinema-will-not-have-listed-status-restored-61634-25700966/
http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/pilgrimstreet
http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storycode=3132207
What a mess..! I’ll not hold my breath :-(
Well, I came back for a catch-up, incredibly busy just now and after looking at all the photos missed and taken a note of the link Alf sent (must look there for Gateshead Pics). I come to this one.
My Dad was a steel erector (nickname monkey)and he worked on this building and Blaydon Power station amongst others throughout the UK. Mind he left and then went down the pits, so we used to say, ever fancy working on the ground Dad?
So its sad to see another one go - Blaydon went years ago. The one and only time I queued to see a picture was here, at the Odeon. The pciture was ‘The Robe’.
Thanks Ash for bringing back my memories of Dancing at the Brighton.
Yes it was a fantastic cinema, especially in its single screen days. Around 1600 seats I think I read somewhere.
I’m pleased your pic shows the Paramount logo, on the left at the very top of the building! Its used to be called the Paramount apparently. I remember my dad pointing it out to me when I was very small - as we waited for a bus over the road!
Ssshh… don’t mention the Tyneside too much - it’s wonderful and should remain a ’secret’!
…remember the Essoldo Alf? ‘Course you do! It was called the ABC when I was a kid, but people of a certain age always called it the Essoldo.
B, even stranger still….
I have just borrowed the SAME BOOK from a friend at work 2 days ago!
The pictures are incredible, the pictures of the paramount from 1931, the decor…. the lady’s powder room, and the foyer!
The Essoldo from that period looked amazing!
Dave, it was always the Essoldo to me which shows my age. I believe it became the Cannon in its later years. Westgate Road must have been a ciemagoers heaven in those days. In close proximity was the Pavillion, the Gaumont and the Stoll. I also remember several film distribution companies had offices on the street. We rarely went to the pictures in Newcastle because we had about 14 cinemas in Gateshead and one of them was at the bottom of our street.
Sorry to spoil the party as my first date with my wife was outside this cinema, but according to Thursdays Chron page 15, it will shortly be flattened! MikeM
Alf, not the flea-pit on Saltwell Road? If so, me too, except if the picture was being shown at the Capitol and not at the flea-pit, which was cheaper.
MikeM -
Plus ça change (plus c’est la même chose).
and before you ask
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Used when a change does not result in an improvement in a situation
Maybe there will be an improvement - an open green space, with a cafe in the middle would be useful.
I’m so glad I posted this pic :)
I’m really sad that it’s going to be demolished. I’m glad I suppose that many of the features are now at the Tyneside, but the more I read about what will be lost the sadder I am.
CGP I’m sure a lot of the pics will be the same but I think some are different in each, and it’s worth reading the book for the stories too.
Mosh I’m up for breaking in…. actually I’m not, i’m far too much of a coward, but I’d LOVE to see pics if you ever do :)
Mike D I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s a travesty that such a key part of Newcastle is so neglected.
Dave, I’ve just rediscovered the Tyneside Coffee Rooms upstairs at the cinema. LOVE THEM.
Mike, how strange is that?! Good book isn’t it?
MikeM (Mikes everywhere here today!!) what a shame. But thanks for letting us know. I think. Also, please tell me you didn’t just stand outside the pics with the wife on your first date?!? ;)
Mrs K, if it’s got to go then that would be nice. Do you hold out any hope????
Thanks all for sharing your memories. It’s good to hear.
Do you all know the Jesmond picture house is no more? demolished in the last couple of months. Sad.
Mrs. K, are ye gannin’ all posh on we with your French quotations? You were right about the Pal (translation: Palladium) though, well done. We didn’t venture to the Cappy (Capitol) very often but we did frequent the Bensham, Coatsworth, Shipcote and even the Rex. The Coatsworth was especially popular when it started continuous showings and you could stay in all day if the checky didn’t catch you. Before anybody asks we didn’t get in to the pictures with a jam jar in my days but my Dad reckons he did.
Beth, pleased you have discovered the Coffee Rooms - I go there A LOT! Good value and very friendly service, and a great building. x
…a jam jar Alf??? Please explain!!
Dave, I’ve been before but not since 2002 or so. I can’t believe I’d forgotten about the place!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=105631286219920&set=o.105254439513097
This is said to be Bob Dylan leaving the Newcastle Odeon May 1966.
Does anyone recognise the building? Newcastle Odeon attribution correct?